Walkathon honors Steven A. Hunter

Portsmouth Elementary raises funds for Steven A. Hunter Hope Fund

Portsmouth Elementary students will honor the memory of Steven A. Hunter this week with their first annual Steven A. Hunter Walkathon.

The Steven A. Hunter Hope Fund was established in memory of Steven Hunter in January of 2006. Steven was a 2003 graduate of Portsmouth High School.

The funds mission sets out to improve the lives of economically disadvantaged children in Scioto and surrounding counties by supplying basic needs and opportunities and fostering hope for their future. The primary focus is childhood hunger and it is addressed through Steven’s Power Pack Program, providing food for the weekend for elementary aged school children with financial needs.

Steven’s Power Packs now serve almost 1,000 hungry children every weekend during the school year in 17 different public schools in Scioto, Adams and Pike County.

“We have a lot of new staff and students, every day they get called down to the office to pick up their power-packs,” Kathy Amburgey, a first grade teacher at Portsmouth Elementary, said. “It made me think, ‘I wonder if they know who Steven Hunter was, do they even know where these power packs come from?’ I decided to talk to the principal about having a walkathon in order to honor Steven and his legacy that continues through his parents, Mark and Virgie.”

All proceeds from the walkathon will go directly into the Steven A. Hunter Hope fund.

“We’re collecting pledges, and anyone can make a donation,” explained Amburgey. “It will be broadcast on 98.3 the Pulse F.M. on Tuesday. We’re challenging community members to make donations because all the proceeds benefit the children in our communities.”

The walkathon will take place at the Hadsell track at the Trojan Athletic Complex.

The students will walk May 10-11, with May 12 being a make-up day.

“I hope that our students see that they can make a difference, and encourages them to give back,” Amburgey said. “We’re trying to teach them that even if they can’t give monetarily, they can give back through their deeds and actions.”

Those with photos of Steven, or those with memories including Steven are encouraged to stop by and share them.

For more information about the Steven A. Hunter Hope Fund, you can visit their website at www.stevenshopefund.org. Donations can be made online, or by dropping them off at Portsmouth Elementary School between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.